Named 2025 Winery of the Year by the Halliday Wine Companion, with the Applejack Pinot Noir winning Pinot of the Year for two consecutive vintages.
What to expect during your tour of Giant Steps
1/6
Founded in 1997 by Phil Sexton, Giant Steps has built a leading reputation in Australian wine. Under Head Winemaker Melanie Chester (since 2021), it was named Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year 2025. The tasting room is located in Healesville, about an hour from Melbourne, with top attractions like Healesville Sanctuary and TarraWarra Museum of Art a short drive away.
Your host walks you through the range from the ground up, starting with the region, moving through the varieties, and landing on the individual vineyard sites that give each wine its character.
A glass wall separates the tasting room from the winery floor. You are drinking the wine and watching how it is made at the same time, a connection most cellar doors cannot offer.
Cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir anchor the range, with Syrah, Grenache, Rosé, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot alongside, from approachable regional blends to the sought-after single vineyard labels that have put Giant Steps on the map.
Come for a quick glass at the bar, settle in for a bottle, or book the full single vineyard experience and go deep. The tasting room is set up to work at whatever pace suits the group.
The tasting room sits on the main street of Healesville, with the town's cafes, restaurants, and Healesville Sanctuary all within easy walking distance before or after your visit.
Guided tours include return transfers from Melbourne, so everyone in the group can drink freely without anyone sitting out.
This stop is ideal if you are looking for:
Named 2025 Winery of the Year by the Halliday Wine Companion, with the Applejack Pinot Noir winning Pinot of the Year for two consecutive vintages.
Head winemaker Melanie Chester lets the vineyard do the talking; the difference between Applejack, Sexton, Primavera, and Bastard Hill is right there in the glass.
Giant Steps is not a traditional vineyard estate. It is a purpose-built, contemporary space in the heart of Healesville, easy to get to, lively, and designed for a proper visit.
Options range from a straightforward regional tasting through to a deep-dive single vineyard experience; bookings essential for the latter.
A calendar of events throughout the year, from harvest tastings of fermenting Chardonnay straight from the cellar, to Pinot Noir competitions and live music sessions, makes every visit different.
Giant Steps built its reputation one vineyard block at a time. The cellar door experience is where you get to taste that work directly, with staff who know every site, every vintage, and exactly what makes each wine different from the one before it.
Staff love to share their stories and wines, from the regional range to the single vineyard expressions that have made Giant Steps one of the most talked-about producers in Australia. Light snacks accompany pre-booked sessions.
A glass wall between the winery and the tasting room makes the winemaking process visible from your seat, a transparent, honest space that reflects how Giant Steps approaches its wine.
Two formats to choose from: the Yarra Valley Tasting at $15 per person for a solid introduction to the regional range, or the Signature Single Vineyard Experience at $55 per person for a guided journey through the vineyard sites that have made Giant Steps famous. Bookings are essential for the latter.
Seasonal events include harvest tastings of fermenting wine straight from the cellar, Pinot Noir side-by-side comparisons, Single Vineyard Release Weekends, and a Summer Music Series; check the events calendar before visiting.
2025 Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year, with the Applejack Pinot Noir winning Pinot of the Year for two consecutive vintages.
Since 2003, Giant Steps wines have collectively been awarded 19 trophies and over 50 gold medals at major international and domestic wine shows.
A tiered tasting format that works for first-timers and serious wine lovers equally, with no pressure to go deeper than you want to.
Disabled access available, centrally located on the Maroondah Highway in Healesville, and easy to incorporate into any tour itinerary.
A single vineyard range, Applejack, Sexton, Primavera, Bastard Hill, that gives guests a genuine education in how place shapes wine, not just a pleasant pour.
Address: Giant Steps Tasting Room, 314 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, VIC 3777 | Find on map
Opening hours:
Time needed at the winery: 45 minutes for the tasting session. Allow 60 to 90 minutes for the Single Vineyard Experience. Add extra time to browse the retail shop or stay on as a wine bar guest after your session.
Bookings are encouraged for all sessions. Bookings are essential for the Signature Single Vineyard Experience. Walk-ins are welcome for casual glasses and the standard Yarra Valley Tasting, where capacity allows.
Giant Steps is best known for single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from six vineyard sites across the Yarra Valley, including Applejack, Sexton, Primavera, and Bastard Hill, as well as a Tasmanian Coal River Valley Pinot Noir. The Circle of Fifths range blends across all five Yarra Valley sites into a single wine.
Two formats are available: the Yarra Valley Tasting at $15 per person, covering a seasonal regional selection; and the Signature Single Vineyard Experience at $55 per person, a guided exploration of the single vineyard range. Bookings are essential for the latter.
Light snacks accompany pre-booked tasting sessions. There is no on-site restaurant, but Healesville town centre has a wide range of cafes and restaurants within walking distance.
Yes. The tasting room is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm and accepts walk-ins for casual glasses and the standard tasting. Bookings are recommended for the Single Vineyard Experience.
45 minutes for the standard Yarra Valley Tasting. 60 to 90 minutes for the Single Vineyard Experience. Allow extra time if you plan to stay on as a wine bar guest after your session.
Yes. The tasting room is designed to suit both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts, with a standard regional tasting that provides an accessible introduction and a more in-depth single vineyard option for those who want to go further.
Yes. The retail shop stocks the full Giant Steps range, including single vineyard releases. The winery does not hold large reserves of back vintages, so current vintage wines are the primary opportunity to purchase, particularly the limited single vineyard labels.
Yes. Disabled access is available at the tasting room. Contact the venue in advance to confirm specific arrangements.
There is no formal dress code. The tasting room is contemporary and relaxed; smart casual is appropriate, but you will not feel out of place in comfortable clothes.
